hp11 printhead designjet 500 24" dye or pigment ink?

[beekeeperbill]

I have a designjet 500 24" it is old and I have replaced all sorts of parts on it. it still fires up and prints awesome. I have been using dye ink in it. Can I just start using pigment ink and let it work through? I realize that the color may mix and be weird for awhile as the pigment pushes through. then I will have to calibrate it when it is just pigment coming out.

Here is the thing? I don't know if the system can handle pigment ink. I read all the time that pigment ink can not be used in a dye ink system but the otherway around is ok. so do I have a pigment system that I have been using dye in or it is intended to be a pigment system?

[Valsimot]

The black is pigment-based, the CMY are DYE.

I have seen in the past on BIJ2800 that used the same HP 11 printheads working just fine with quality pigment-based ink. 

[beekeeperbill]

Maybe the real question is: if It is a dye system and I install pigment ink, what damage will I do? what parts might have to be replaced?

[Valsimot]

If something goes wrong, you will need to replace ink tubes that are coming from ink cartridges to the printheads, and printheads.

There is an option to wash the ink tubes from the old ink, but the printheads will probably need to be replaced. If any damage happens it will be to printheads, the rest of the printer is immune to dye or pigment-based ink.